In the winter of 1914, snow had been falling for a day and a night.

Aria was awakened by the cold. Shivering, she wrapped herself tightly in her blanket like a cocoon, her eyes stuck together as if glued shut, while numerous "Shits" floated through her mind. She couldn't understand why it felt like the dead of winter when it should have been spring.

Wait a minute!

Aria sat bolt upright.

She clearly remembered their failed mission to infiltrate the terrorist organization, and the plane crash during their escape. Could she have survived a fall from thousands of meters?

Her excitement lasted barely a second before she realized something was wrong.

The girl's fingers were long and delicate - nothing like her own hands that had long wielded scalpels and firearms. Moreover, her surroundings were completely unfamiliar.

This was a room straight out of a period drama set in the Republic era, with a wooden round table in the center and a pear-blossom-topped cabinet beside the bed, containing several well-worn qipaos.

Everything felt strange.

Just as Aria was about to get out of bed to investigate, the door creaked open and a young girl wearing a jade green vest with two long braids entered.

Seeing Aria sitting up, she exclaimed delightedly, "Third Miss, you're awake! That foreign doctor was right - he said you'd wake today and you really did! Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

Third Miss?

Aria pointed to herself, "Are you talking to me?"

"Third Miss, what's wrong?" The girl stepped forward worriedly, "Did you hit your head when you fell into the water?"

Water?

Aria looked at her puzzled, "Bring me a mirror."

Though confused by the request, Cherry handed her one.

The mirror reflected a girl of about seventeen or eighteen, with red lips, white teeth, and willow-leaf eyebrows - a classic beauty, though pale, her looks were undeniable.

Aria's hands trembled, nearly dropping the mirror. The person in the reflection was beautiful indeed, but it wasn't her at all.

If this wasn't a dream, she must have transmigrated.

Soul possession? This defied science!

She was a doctor from a 22nd-century counter-terrorism organization who had completed countless missions, yet here she was, having died and ended up in this strange place.

Seeing her sickly expression, Cherry grew more concerned and consoled, "Third Miss, this is all fate. Please accept it and stop trying to end your life - it only worries Second Aunt. Though the Governor's eldest son is simple-minded, it's still one of the best families in An City. At least you'll want for nothing after marriage."

"You're saying I'm supposed to marry an idiot?" Aria pointed to herself, her mind racing with expletives.

She could accept transmigrating, especially since the original body was beautiful, but marrying an idiot? What kind of plot was this?

"Third Miss!" Cherry was nearly in tears, "Please don't frighten me!"

As Aria's mind whirled in confusion and she was about to speak, footsteps approached from outside.

The door was thrown open forcefully, letting in a blast of bitter cold wind that stung like icicles against their faces. Aria instinctively narrowed her eyes.

"Finally, Miss Aria is awake." It was Mrs. Rudd, the maid who came with Dubois family's first madam.

She wore a cyan-colored double-breasted jacket and a pair of new brocade flat shoes. Standing arrogantly at the doorway, she glanced at Aria with her brows furrowed so tightly they could squeeze a fly to death.

She turned to instruct the little maid outside, "Go inform Madam that Third Miss is awake. I'll take her to the ancestral hall for punishment right away!"

"Mrs. Rudd, you can't!" Cherry practically threw herself forward. "Third Miss just woke up and she's very weak. She can't handle punishment now!"

"You little hussy, who are we to interfere with Madam's orders?" Mrs. Rudd shoved Cherry aside and stepped forward to grab Aria's arm. "Third Miss, come with me now."

Though confused about the situation, Aria wasn't one to take abuse. When Mrs. Rudd pinched her arm painfully, Aria twisted back, nearly breaking the old woman's arm. Mrs. Rudd let out a piercing scream.

In truth, Aria hadn't used much force - she'd just hit a pressure point, which was why Mrs. Rudd broke into a cold sweat from the pain.

"Try to lay hands on me again," Aria warned, "and I'll dislocate your arm."

Mrs. Rudd took a while to recover, looking back at the girl on the bed in disbelief. Was this really the same timid Aria who used to be meeker than a mouse?

"You... you..."

"What about me?" Aria made another move toward her, sending Mrs. Rudd stumbling backward. "You've lost your mind! Just wait until I report this to Madam!"

As Mrs. Rudd stormed off to get reinforcements, Cherry said tearfully, "What do we do now? Madam won't let this go."

"Stop crying." Aria pulled her up sharply. "My head's not clear right now. Tell me what's going on - why do they want to punish me?"

"Third Miss... you... you..."

"Speak up," Aria said impatiently. She hated feeling this confused.

"W-what should I say?" Cherry stammered, unaccustomed to seeing her usually timid mistress so forceful.

Seeing that Cherry was on her side, Aria cut straight to the point: "Who am I? Where is this place?"

"You're Third Miss Aria of the Dubois family!" Cherry looked spooked. "This is the Dubois mansion, and I'm your maid Cherry. Don't you remember?"

Aria? The original owner shared her name - what a coincidence.

"Why does this Madam want to punish me? What did I do wrong?"

"After learning you were to marry the Military Governor's eldest son, you tried to drown yourself in the lake. Madam and Master were furious and said they'd teach you a lesson when you woke up!" Cherry's face was full of worry. "Maybe if you say something nice..."

"Hah!" Aria laughed coldly. "They want to marry me off to an idiot and expect me to apologize to them?"

Her eyes narrowed as the realization dawned on her - the original Aria had been nothing but a punching bag in this household. But she wasn't some pushover who'd take this lying down. If they wanted to bully her, they'd better think twice.

"Miss Aria, I understand your frustration," Cherry spoke softly, her voice tinged with resignation. "But we're nobodies in this house. What can we possibly do?"

Cherry's mindset had been shaped by years of serving the original Aria. Like her mistress, submission was the only strategy she knew.

"Stop crying," Aria tossed a towel to her. "Look where all that submission got you - still being pushed around. Well, from now on, we're done playing nice."

"Miss..." Cherry stared at her in disbelief. "But what choice do we have?"

The girl's words revealed the harsh reality - even her mother, the Second Madam, was powerless in this house. That's what happened when you weren't the master's favorite.

"Just watch," Aria's lips curved into a smile as she noticed the red marks on Cherry's arm. "Now, tell me everything about this household."